Device for use in examining teeth



Sept. '28, 1943. H. L. FRANK 2,330,485

DEVICE FOR USE IN EXAMINING TEETH Filed Aug. 21, 1941 6/ m, gm M ATTORNEYS.

plement showing the same inserted into Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNlTED stars PA'reuT 2,330,485 DEVICE FOR USE IN EXAMINING TEETH Herman L. Frank, Buffalo. N.Y. I 3 V Application August 21, 1941, Serial No.4om65 1 (Jlaim. (o1. Mil- 2.18)

This invention relates to improvements in devices or implements for use in connection with the inspection or examination of teeth.

Dentists are usually provided with implements of various types by means of which they may examine the teeth of patients, but such instruments are usually not available to the general public. Consequently, individuals can-not readily examine their own teeth to determine whether the same are clean, or to dislodge foreign matter I therefrom, or to determine whether or not the services of a dentist are required.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive implement or device which may be easily used byan tor for examining the inner surfaces of the teeth or with a check extending or displacing member which may be used in either side of the mouth for examining the outer surfaces of the teeth. Other objects will appear from the following description and claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tooth-examining device embodying this invention and having a reflector or mirror arranged thereon.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mirror detached from the device or implement.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of that end of the implement which is inserted into the mouth and showing attaching means for applying a mirror or a cheek-extending member thereto.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken approximately on line 4 Fig. l. I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the illuminating end of the device showing a cheek-extending member applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cheek-extending member detached from the implement.

Fig. '7 is a sectional, perspective view of a human mouth showing a portion of my improved implement inserted therein, with a cheek-extending member secured thereto.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of mydevice or ima mouth for-examinationof the teeth. v I

Fig; 9 is a sectional elevation, taken on line 99, Fig. 4. 1

- My improved. device or implement includes a handle portion l5 of any suitable or desired construction, and which ispreferably made hollow so as to form a housing for adry cell or battery for supplying electric current to operate a light bulb It for illuminating the interior of a mouth.

The handle, for example, may have a removable cap IT on the end thereof through which a dry cell or battery I8 may be inserted into or removed from thehandle. The other end of the handle I5 terminates in a stem portion 20 which is preferably tubular in formand terminates in a bulb-like enlargement I2! in which a socket for the electric light bulb I6 is provided. The handle and stem, together with its enlargement 2|, may be made of any suitable or desired material. These three parts mayyfor example, be made integral or formed separately of the same material, or the handle maybe made' of metal while the stem and enlargement 2|, thereof are made of a plastic or..non co'nducting 'material which can beeasily cleansed or sterilized. As indicated in the drawing; the stem 29' and its enlargement 2| are made in one piece, of a plastic or insulating material, and: are molded so that the usual threaded light socket 23 is suitably embedded or secured therein, and the current conducting tip 24 with which 'thetip of the light bulb I5 contacts may also be embedded in this enlargement 2|. Suitable conductors25 and 26 connect respectively with the'socket' 23" and the current-conducting tip 24 andj extend through the hollow stem 20 for connection with the dry cell or battery H8 in any usual or suitable man'- ner through a switch 23. Since these connectlons'and the switch may be of any suitable or desired form, such as are commonly used on flashlights of various types, they are not herein f shown in detail. It will also beobvious that if the stem 20 and its enlarged end 2i are made of metal or other electrical conducting material, the stem itself may cc'nstitut'e oneof the conductors, as is common'practice in flashlights.

All of the parts thus far described do not of themselves constitute a part of this invention and maybe of anyl'oth er suitable or desired construction.

Preferably, the extension or enlargement 2| of the stem 20 is formed in such a manner that the electric light bulb 16 will have its axis arranged transversely of the axis of the stem 26,

so as to facilitate the use of the device for illuminating the interior of a mouth. Means are provided on the device for removably supporting either a mirror 30 on the device or a cheek-extending member 40. In order to be of maximum usefulness, it is desirable to have the reflector or mirror 38 arranged approximately in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the light bulb l6 extends slightly beyond the reflecting face of the mirror 30, and to removably hold the mirror in place on the device, so that it may be removed therefrom and replaced by the cheek-extending member 40, since the mirror or reflector 30 is necessary for the inspection or examination of certain inner surfaces of the teeth while the cheek-extending member is essential for use in connection with the inspection of other portions or surfaces of the teeth. 'Any suitable or desired connection or securing means may be employed for readily attaching either the mirror or the cheek-extending member to the device. In the construction shown for this purpose, the outer end of the bulb-like enlargement 2| of the device is provided with an outwardly extending collar 'or annular supporting member 3!, the peripheral portion of which is substantially cylindrical in form and the inner edge of which is so formed as to permit the light bulb It: to be secured in its socket and to extend outwardly beyond the collar.

The reflector or mirror is provided with a part which may engage the collar 3!, preferably frictionally, so that the mirror may be readily placed on or removed from this collar. This may be effected in any suitable or desired manner, and in the construction illustrated, the mirror 39 is provided with a circular aperture or hole 33 which is of such diameter that it will fit about the outer. periphery of the collar 3!. Consequently the mirror or reflector 30 may be easily positioned on the device, as indicated in Figs, 1 and 4. When the mirror has been positioned on the device or implement, the same may be inserted into the mouth at a slight inclination, as shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the inner surfaces of the teeth of the upper jaw may be clearly seen in the mirror, as well as apart of the upper palate or roof of the mouth. The light bulb I6 is so arranged with reference to the mirror that its light is directed mainly against the roof of the mouth and the inner surfaces of the teeth, so that the mirror will very plainly reflect the illuminated surfaces. If a person is using this device himself, he must of course stand before another mirror, such for example, as a wall mirror, so that through such mirror (not shown), he may see the reflections of the teeth in the mirror .30.

While the ,mirror 39 is shown flat in form, so

as to reflect the teeth without enlargement, yet

it will be obvious that if desired, the mirror 30 may be of any other shape and may be formed to show enlarged or magnified images of the teeth.

When the implement is used in the -manner indicated, the stem and the lower portion of the enlargement 2! thereof may be used as tongue depressors so that the tongue will not interfere with the proper examination or inspection of the teeth of the upper jaw. As a rule, no means need be provided for the inspection of the inner surfaces of the teeth of the lower jaw, but if desired, it is of course obvious that'my improved implement or device may be inverted or tilted at an angle from the position shown in Fig. 8, so that the mirror will reflect the inner surfaces of the teeth of the lower jaw "or, if

desired, the mirror may be removed from the device so that the device may be used merely for illuminating the teeth of the lower jaw so that they can be seen through a wall or hand mirror,

In order to enable a person to inspect the outer surfaces of the back teeth of the upper and lower jaws, the implement is inserted into either side of the month between the adjacent surfaces of the teeth and the cheek. Since the cheeks ordinarily are spaced quite closely or in contact with the outer surfaces of the teeth, I have found it very desirable to use a cheek-extending member in connection with my improved teeth-inspecting device so that a check may be held far enough away from the teeth to permit an adequate view of the outer surfaces of the teeth. The cheekextending member may be of any suitable or desired shape and material, being shown of a somewhat triangular shape in the accompanying drawing merely byway :of example. Since some of the pressure may be exerted by the check against the cheek-extending member, it is also desirable to secure this member to the implement more securely than the mirror or reflector 39. I have, consequently :provided means for securely and remo-vably mounting the cheek-extending member on the collar 34. For this purpose, the cheek-extending member is provided with an annular band or sleeve 4| which may be connected with the cheek-en aging portion 30 thereof, by means of an arm or neck 42. The annular sleeve 4! is preferably also provided on its inner face with an inwardly extending lug or projection "43 which is formed to enter into a groove 1-5 formed on the collar 3i. This-groove preferably extends about half-way around :the collar and a smail groove 45 extends upwardly from an intermediate portion of the'groove' tfi to the upper edge of the collar 31. Consequently, the sleeve of the cheekextending member may be positioned on the collar 3| by first passing the lug '63 downwardly in the uprightgroo've 4t until it enters the circumferential groove "45. The sleeve 4| may then be turned in either direction to position the cheekextending member at either side of the light bulb I5. In order to move this cheek-extending member from one side to the other of the light bulb, the lug "43 moves from one iend 'of the groove 45 to the other end thereof in the particular construction shown. This construction serves to hold the cheek-extending member securely and releasably onthe implement, :butanyothermeans may be employed 'for this purpose ifdesired.

By the use of the device with the cheek-extending member mounted thereon, thech'eek may be extended or pushed laterally away from the adjacent teeth when the implement is inserted into a 'side of the mouth while 'the'stem Bil is in substantially upright position, as shown in 'Fig. 7. The light will thenshine directly on the outer surfaces of the teeth-so that the same may be easily seen in a wall or hand mirror if the user is examining his own teeth. Anyperson examining the teeth of another person can, of course,

see the outer surfaces of the teeth directly, by using the implement without a mirror.

By means of the implement shown, any person may easily inspect -or examine his-teeth tomake sure that they :are thoroughly cleaned and that no particles of food'or foreign matter remain between the teeth. '33 thoroughly :cleaning the teeth, decay and deterioration thereof :may, to a large extent, be avoided. Furthermore, .if 'a defeet or cavity occurs zin the teeth, the iiserof ithe device may detect the same in ample time so that a comparatively small cavity or filling may be suflicient to remedy the defect. While the device is primarily intended for use by individuals for examining their own teeth it will be obvious that the device may also be used by dentists, for example, for the purpose of showing to their pa tients the work which they have done or should do on the teeth.

While I have shown a dry'battery as a source of power to avoid any possibility of giving the user a shock, yet any other sourcetof electricity -for the light bulb may be provided if desired.

HERMAN L. FRANK. 

